Means foe analytically recording gaits of horses



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) T. J. KEAN.

MEANS FOR ANALYTIGALLY RECORDING GAITS 0E HORSES. No. 546,700. PatentedSept. 24, 1895.

Ill A I nventor.

Witnesses.

qw Attorney.

ANDREW E GRAHAMtPHOTO-LITHO.WASHINGTUmBC.

(No, Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. J. KEAN. MEANS FOR ANALYTICALLY RECORDING GAITS 0F HORSES. No.546,700. Patented Sept. Z4, 1895.

w '3 ooo@ oo oo oo oo 0000000000 oo NO- 546,700- Patented Sept. y24,1895.

(No/v/Model.) v 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

. J. KE

MEANS FOS ANALY LLY REG Ne GAITS 0F HORSES.

(No Model.)

T.'J.KEAN. l MEANS 'EOE ANALYTIGALLY RECORDING GAITS 0F HORSES.

Patented Sept. .24, 1895.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

ANDREW ELRHAM, PNTO-LITNO-WASHINGTON. D C,

Attorney.

vurrs STATES' trims.

THOMAS J. KEAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR ANALYTICALLY RECORDING GAIT OF HORSES.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No.v546,700, dated September24, 1895. Application filed December 5, 1894. Serial No. 530,862. (NomodeLl To a/ZZ whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that LTHOMAS J. KEAN, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Meansfor Analytically Recording the Gait of a Horse, of which thefollowingisa full, clear, and exact description, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspeciiieation.

The object of this invention is to provide a novel and efficient meansfor analytically recording the gait-c'. e., the foot and leg motions-0fa horse, to the end that any peculiar or faulty actions of the animal,together with the remedy therefor, may be accurately and expeditiouslydetermined.

Vith this object in view the invention consists in the provision ofnovel electricallycontrolled recording mechanism, and in the operativeconnection thereof with a contact device or devices suitably disposed onthe shoe or shoes of the animal, whereby the periodical action of suchdevice or devices upon the ground, in point of time and position, willeffect the operation of said mechanism in such a manner as to beprogressively and relatively recorded thereby.

The invention consists, also, in novel features of construction andorganization, that will hereinafter be particularly described andclaimed.

Referring to the annexed drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of theapparatus as in actual use, the side of thewagon being broken away forclearness. Fig. 2 is a plan, enlarged, ofthe electrically-controlledrecordingmechanism as mounted in the wagon. Fig. 3 is a side elevationof a means for throwing said mechanism into and out of operation. Fig. 4:is a partial longitudinal section, as on theline 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5is a vertical section through the lower portion of ahoop, its shoe, andadjuncts. Fig. 6 is a full horizontal section, as on the line 6 6 ofFig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section, as on the line '7 7' ofFig. 5. Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the several electricalconnections between the respective shoes and the recording mechanism.Fig. 9 is a plan of a portion of the strip or web with the analysisrecorded thereon.

Fig. l0 is a vertical section of a modified construction of recordingapparatus, hereinafter referred to. Fig. ll is a plan of a portion ofsaid construction.

A designates an electrically-controlled recording apparatus suitablydisposed within the wagon, which apparatus,in a convenient and efficientform, is ofthe following construction: o. is a base-board, upon which issupported a series of electromagnets a', the number of the series beingdetermined by and corresponding with the number of contactdevices(hereinafter described) in the shoes of the animal, ln the presentinstance there are three contact devices in each shoe, and inconsequence twelve magnets are provided. The armature a2 of each of themagnets is connected with one end of a horizontal arm a3, the forwardend of which is connected with a depending spring-plate a4. The severalplates are arranged in sets of three, as seen in Fig. 2, correspondingwith the number of contact devices on each shoe, the respective setsbeing disposed at slight intervals apart. (See Fig. 6.) The armsconverge from the armatures to these plates, as seen in Fig. 2, and therelative arrangement of parts is such that if the electric circuitsbetween the magnets, or any of them, and the batteries be alternatelybroken and completed the depending springplates will be oscillated.Clamped or otherwise secured to the free ends of the depending springsare pencils a5 or other marking devices, which are adapted to impingeagainst a contiguous traveling strip' B, of paper or the like, and toimprint thereon parallel lines or dashes indicating the duration of thecompleted circuit or circuits.

The strip is moved at a given rate of speed in reference to that of thehorse, so that the relative lengths and intervals of the dashes willaccurately prescribe the condition of the respective contact-points onthe shoes of the animal. The contact-points, by which the :respectivecircuits are controlled, may be applied to the horses hoofs in anysuitable manner. In the construction illustrated herein there isinterposed between each shoe O and the hoof asupplemental shoe c, ofvulcanized rubber or other non-conductor, in which are disposed atpredetermined points three plates c' c2 c, of conducting material,provided with binding-screws c4, respectively. (See Figs. 5, 6, and 7.)The interposed shoe cis preferably formed with a flange c5, which coactswith the inner edge of the shoe proper, so as to insure the properdisposition of the former, and it is also preferably made in sections,as seen, so that it may be used in connection with horseshoes of varioussizes. The metallic shoe C is perforated at points in line with theplates c c2 c3 on the interposed non-conduct ing shoe, andvertically-movable studs c(3 are iitted to the perforations thus formed.The upper ends of these studs are maintained normally depressed and outof contact with the respective plates by means of suitably-disposedsprings c', while their lower ends project below the metallic shoe.Hence by depressing these studs, or any of them, into contact with theplates an electric connection will be elt'ected between the shoe andsuch plates or plate. In the present instance a separate battery D isprovided for each magnet, the positive poles of the battery beingconnected with the respective plates by a wire d and the negative polesbeing connected by means of wires with a common return-wire d, which isin its turn connected withthe metal shoe. rlhus there are three electriccircuits, which are broken between the plates and their studs,respectively, and consequently if the contact be made between the shoeand any of the plates, as above stated, a circuit will be completed, theenergized magnet thereupon effecting the operation of the connectedpencil; or, in other words, should the horse whose gait is beinganalyzed strike the ground in the first instance with the toe of hisslice the forward stud will be moved upward to complete the circuit, thepencil thus imprinting a dashA upon the paper proportionate to the dwellof the stud upon the ground,and should he then in this step press theshoe to the right or to the left the corresponding stud will beoperated, and the time and the position of the movement relative to thatfirst named will be likewise recorded on the strip; or should he strikethe ground squarely with the shoe the three studs will be simultaneouslyoperated, and such operation be transmitted to the recorder. lVhere, asin this instance, the four feet of the animal are equipped with thedescribed devices, the respective movements of the feet in reference toeach other will be re corded in parallel lines, the strides of the horsebeing indicated by the longitudinal spaces between the adjacent sets ofdashes, Hence the gait of the horse will be accurately analyzed andrecorded, and, as a result, any defective foot actions thereby appearingmay be readily ascertained, to the end that proper curative measurestherefor, such as the use of peculiarlyeformed shoes, may be taken. Thewires d d are extended along the legs of the horse, being held in placeby means of suitably-disposed bands d2; thence they arc extended alongthe shafts of and into the wagon, where they are connected tobindingposts d3 on the base ot' the contained apparatus.

As asitnple and eflcient means whereby the strip of paper shall be fedto the markers at a prescribed rate of speed, in order that the relativelengths of the imprints in respect to the speed of the horse shallenable the active duration of the respective contacts to be accuratelydetermined, I provide the following construction: E is a housing securedto the base-board and provided with a suitably-disposed bracket e, towhich the upper ends of the depending spring-plates are fixed. (SeeFigs. 2 and Il.) In this housing,immediately in rear of the markers a,carried by said plates, is rotatably mounted a feed-roller c', the axisof which is preferably in line horizontally with the markers. In rear ofthis feed-roller are mounted two rollers e, one of which e2 is asupply-roller, and the other of which c3 is a tale-up roller. The web orstrip B is drawn from the supply-roller to and around the front of thefeed-roller, thence to the take-up roller. Bearing upon the web or stripon the feed-roller is a smaller roller t", the trunnions of which aresupported in spring-actuated boxes ci in the housing, to the end thatsaid roller el will exert pressure upon the web on the feed-roller andkeep it taut. On one of the trunnions or journals of the feed-roller isa pulley c, which is belted with a similar pulley el on the talteuproller. (See Fig. Hence when the fced-roller is properly rotated to drawthe web from the supply-roller the talteup roller is siinultaneouslyrotated in a manner to wind up the strip or web. On the journals of thesupplyroller are tension-springs es, which, enacting with thepressure-roller, insure the uniform contact of the traveling-strip withthe feed roller, and thus obviate the otherwise liability of the paperto buckle.

Although there is more than one way whereby the feed-roller may beimpelled I shall describe a means which I consider very efiicientanddesirable. @ne of thetrunnions of the feed roller is extended beyond thchousing and has connected therewith, by means of a universaljoint j',one end of a stud f', which is practically a continuation of saidtrunnion. On this stud is fixed a pinionf, which is designed, by meansbelow described, to be moved into and ontof engagement with a pinion f3on the inner end of an adjacent stud f4. On the outer end of the latterstud is a sprocket-wheel f5, which is geared by means of a chainfG witha similar wheel fr on one of the carrying-wheels of the wagon, wherebyduring the traverse ofthe latter the motion will be transmitted from thecarrying wheel to the stud f and its pinion. llencc if the pinion]et beengaged with the pinion f3 the motion will be communicated to thefeed-roller.

Fitted to suitably-arranged guidc-brackets g on the base-plate is alongitudinally-movable rod g', one end of which is connected With acollar g2 on the end of the pivoted stud by means of a link g3, and theother end of which is similarly connected With a normally-raised treadleG on the bottom of the Wagon by means of a link g4, whereby the act ofdepressing said treadle will advance the pivoted stud and move itspinion into engagement with the pinion f3. The treadle is arranged nearthe front of the Wagon, so that it Will be convenient to the foot of thedriver.

4Hinged tothe rear of the base-board is a transverse bar d, on the upperface of which is arranged a series of contact-plates d5, whichcorrespond with the poles of the respective batteries, the Wires of thelatter being connected with binding-posts on said contactplates,respectively, (See Fig. 8.) These plates extend over the edge of thebase-board and are adapted to be engaged with a corresponding series ofcontact-plates d6 on the board, which latter plates are wired with therespective magnets and the contact devices on the shoes of the horse,whereby the entire series of electrical connections may besimultaneously broken by properly turning the hinged contact-bar. Thelatter is normally maintained in the breaking condition by means of abowed spring H, one end of which is secured to the bar, While its freeend bears upon the base-board. This bar is connected at one end by meansof a spring s, chain h, slide 7L', and link h2 with the collar on themovable stud, whereby the spring H not only acts to maintain thecontact-bar out of action,

but also the pinion on said stud. 'When the treadle is depressed by thedriver, the contaots are first made along the bar, and immediatelythereafter the feed-roller mechanism is brought into operation. By thisconstruction the operation of the machine is wholly under the control ofthe driver.

It is obvious that the condition of the contact-studs on the shoe may bereversed, so as normally to complete the circuits, in which case thecontacts would be broken by their impact With the ground, and themarkers be thereupon actuated. It is also obvious that the supplementalnon-conducting shoe interposed between the main shoe and the hoof may bedispensed with, in which case the contact-plates would be embedded inthe hoof. It is also obvious that instead of the recording mechanismabove described other recording mechanisms may be used-as for example,the construction illustrated in Figs. lO and ll-namely, wherein thestrip or web B is in the nature of a sensitized photographic filmcontained in a light tight box, said box 1 being provided with a row orseries of transverse perforations 2, corresponding in number andposition withthe markers in the first-described arrangement, and beingalso provided with a series of slides or shutters 3, movable upon theperforations, `which slides or shutters are formed on the ends of thearms a3, and are connected with the armatures a2 of the magnets a in amannerto be reciprocated thereby similarlyto the markers. It is evidentthat when the slides are opened periodically the light will act upon theadjacent surfaces of the moving lm, so as to produce lines or dashesthereon proportionate to the duration of the exposure, and hence thetime and the position of t-he respective contacts on the shoes of thehorse Will be photographically recorded.

I claim as my inventionl. In means for analytically recording the gaitof a horse the combination, with a receiving surface and means foradvancing the sa me at a rate of speed controlled by that of the horse,of electrically-controlled means for antomatically recording on saidsurface, circuit Wires leading from said means to the hoof of a horse,and a contact device on said hoof connected with the circuit wires,substantially as described.

2. In means for analytically recording the gait of a horse thecombination, with a strip or Web, and means for feeding the same at arate of speed controlled by that of the'horse, of electricallycontrolled means for automatically recording on said strip, circuitWires leading from said means to the hoof of a horse, and a contactdevice on said hoof connected With the circuit `wires, substantially asdescribed.

3. In means for analytically recording the gait of a horse thecombination, with an electrically-controlled recording device, ofcircuit Wires leading therefrom to the hoof of a horse, and a series ofindependent contact devices on said hoof connected with the circuitWires,

substantially as described.

4. In means'for analytically recording the gait of a horse thecombinatiomwith an electrically-controlled recording device, of circuitWires leading therefrom to the respective hoofs of the horse,independent contact devices on said hoofs connected With the respectivecircuit wires, substantially as described.

5. The combination, With a strip or web, and means for actuating thesame, of a series of markers adjacent thereto, magnets operativelyconnected with said markers, a battery or batteries, circuit Wiresconnecting said battery or batteries With the magnets, and leading tothe hoof of the horse, and a series of independent contact devices onsaid hoof connected with the circuit Wires, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a strip or Web, and means for actuating thesame, of markers arranged adjacent thereto in independent sets, magnetsoperatively connected with said markers, a battery or batteries, circuitWires connecting said battery or batteries with the IOC) IIO

magnets and leading to the respective hoofs v leading therefrom to thehoot of a horse, a series of independent contact devices on said hoofconnected with the circuit wires, and means for breaking the circuitssimultaneously, substantially as described.

S. The combination, with a strip or web, and means for actuating thesame,of a series of markers adjacent thereto, magnets operativelyconnected with said markers, a battery or batteries, circuit wiresconnecting said battery or batteries, with the magnets and leading tothehoof of ahorse, a series of independent contact devices on said hoofconnected with the circuit wires, means to break the electricalconnections between the battery or batteries and the magnets, and meansto throw the strip or web operating mechanism out of action,substantially as described.

t). In means for analytically recording the gait of a horse, thecombination, with an electrically controlled recording device, of ahorses shoe, a vertically-movable contact stud therein, a contact platearranged adjacent to said stud and insulated from the shoe, and circuitwires connected with said plate, the shoe and the recording device,substantially as described.

l0. In means `for analytically recording` the gait of a horse, thecombination, with an electrically controlled recording device, of ahorses shoe, a contact device therein, a supplemental shoe ofnon-conducting` material provided with a contact plate, and circuitwires connected with said plate, the shoe and the recording device,substantially as dcscribed.

ll. The combination, with a horsels shoe, of a series of contact devicesarranged thereon, at predetermined points, a corresponding series ofcontact devices insulated from said shoe, and circuit wires connectedwith said latter devices and the shoe, substantially as described.

l2. The combination, with a horses shoe, and a series of contact devicesarranged therein at predetermined points, ot' a supplemental shoe of nonconducting material provided with a corresponding series of contactdevices, and circuit wires connected with said latter devices and theshoe, respectively, substantially as described.

1.3. The combination, with a horses shoe,

sterco and a series of contact devices arranged there` in atpredetermined points, of a sectional supplemental shoe of nonconductingmaterial provided with a corresponding series ot' coutact devices, andcircuit wires connected with said latter devices and the shoe,respectively, substantially as described.

let. The combination, with a vehicle, of a mechanism therein comprisinga suitable frame or housing, a web supply roller, a feed roller, andgearing between the feed roller and one of the wheels of the vehicle,electrically-controlled means for recording on thc web, circuit wiresleading from said means to the hoot of a horse, and a contact device onsaid hoof connected with the circuit wires, substantially as described.

l5. The combination, with a vehicle, of a mechanism therein comprising asuitable frame or housing, a web supply roller, a feed roller, gearingbetween the feed roller and one of the wheels ot' the vehicle, and meansfor throwingsaid gearing into and out of operation,electricallycontrolled means for recording on the web, circuit wiresleading from said means to the hoof ot a horse, and a contact device onsaid hoof connected with the circuit wires, substantially as described.

IG. The combination, with a vehicle, of a mechanism therein comprising asuitable frame or housing, a web supply roller, a feed roller, gearingbetween the ieed roller and one of the wheels of the vehicle, a seriesof markers adjacent to said feed roller, magnets operatively connectedwith said markers, a battery or batteries electrically conl nected withthe magnets, a series ot independent contact devices arranged on thehoof oi a horse and connected with the electric circuits as described,means whereby the circuits may be simultaneously broken, and meanswhereby the feed roller gearing may be thrown out of operation,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto attiXed mysignature in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

TIIOM AS I. I( EAN Witnesses: Y

Jol-IN R. Nonna, A. V. GROUPE.

